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what defines a cigar box, baritone guitar

Ive been looking for data for a baritone build. I have read a 26.67” scale helps to define the guitar as baritone. Before I get down to this, I wondered if I could get the parameters, is scale length, fret count, 3-4 string, typical tuning, what type of strings and any other parameters that define the build as baritone.

if this is info that is easily found, I would be happy for a link. But finding cigar box baritone guitar plans or parameters were not easy for me to find.

Thanks for your consideration

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Tim Pannabecker on June 10, 2019 at 8:25am

Ie. G open fret, g on 12 fret. I’ve got the

at but on the 12th fret it maybe flat or sharp, based a digital tuner.

Is that considered good, though not 100% “on” ?

Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on June 10, 2019 at 6:59pm

Depends on how far off it is on the 12th. A little compensation tuning is expected as long as the compensating doesn't ruin the open tuning, a lot means the intonation is off. ;)

I always tune open and then compensate at the 12th every time I tune up.

Permalink Reply by John Mark Perchalski on October 31, 2019 at 1:58am

Pardon me for resurrecting a four month old post, but what's drop C or drop B tuning going to be?

I'm imagining that drop C is going from DAD to CAD...But I haven't a clue on what 'drop C-drop B' means, nor am I quite sure what tuning you'd be dropping from to get to drop B.

I'm enamored of the idea of a baritone CBG after watching some of Shane Speal's videos, but I'm trying to figure out what sort of tuning (he says something about drop C in one of his videos).

Thanks!

Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on November 1, 2019 at 6:56am

A standard Bass is tuned with the same notes as the guitar except they are one octave lower than what is tuned on the guitar. So people that wanted darker tones on their guitar's would "drop" the tuning of their guitars to a lower than standard tuning.

A drop C would be C/G/C lower than the usual G/D/G on a 3 string CBG. It is hard to drop more than 2 or 3 notes because the strings start to get too loose on a standard length CBG/Guitar(24.5" to 25.5"), but a Baritone scale guitar(26" to 28.5") will take out that looseness of the strings for lower tunings.

Of course a lot of this depends on what gauge strings are being used and on what scale length is being used.

Permalink Reply by Jim Kurtz on June 30, 2019 at 2:26pm

My first build was a 25.5” scale acoustic pencil box.

Everywhere I read was Open G.

I wanted lower and found Open E.

So the strings I used are E .046, B .035, E .026

Now I found Open D or Drop D tuning.

I purchased a set of Dunlop Heavy Core for drop D tuning. .054 is heaviest string in the pack.

(these are electric guitar strings)

I think as long as you have the mix of strings to get you the deep you need scale could be anywhere from 25 to 30.

My second build is a 25” inch Gitty made neck. Going to buy the Shane Spiel Open D strings for it. Will be my Grumbler. :)

Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on July 2, 2019 at 6:30am

The term Baritone does apply to scale length, but as Jim Kurtz points out, heavy gauge string can get you convincing Baritone sound.

A Baritone scale is going to be tuned lower than a regular guitar scale and that brings lower tone like the heavier strings will also do while not technically being a Baritone scale. 25.5 isn't very far off from Baritone scale anyway.